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Expert training for Kazakhstan’s local authorities on improving rehabilitation services for former prisoners
From April 16-17, 2013 Penal Reform International in Central Asia organised training for staff of akimats (local state authorities), which were given responsibility for rehabilitation of prisoners on release in August 2010. The training was made possible with the financial support of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Kazakhstan. Read the press release: Resocialisation training for […]
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PRI’s Central Asia office are hosting training for journalists on reporting on penal reform issues
PRI’s Central Asia office are running training for 25 journalists on reporting on penal reform issues in Astana this week. The training will be led by a team of experts from the United Kingdom, including Malcolm Dean, former Guardian journalist, now working for the Guardian Foundation, and from Kazakhstan. The goal of the event is to […]
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PRI and Freedom from Torture produce course manual for holistic rehabilitation for torture survivors
Torture has such a devastating impact that survivors may need help on a number of levels to effectively rebuild their lives. Holistic rehabilitation takes into account the varied and complex needs of torture survivors to help them to regain full physical, emotional and psychological health. In 2011, Freedom from Torture (previously the Medical Foundation for the Victims of […]
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Report from Conference on Violence against Children in Juvenile Justice Systems now available
This international conference on Violence against Children in Juvenile Justice Systems was held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan jointly with UNICEF, with support from the European Union, the Department of International Development and the British Embassy in Bishkek. Participants from approximately 14 countries attended, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Tanzania, and […]
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Press release: Turning research into action to eliminate torture and ill-treatment of children in detention
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, 21 September 2012 —The Kyrgyz Parliament and Government are hosting an international conference today to reduce violence against children in conflict with the law with the support of The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Penal Reform International (PRI). Globally, the vast majority of children are detained for non-violent crimes including running away […]
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PRI publishes new research into violence against children in juvenile justice settings in eight countries
PRI has published new research examining law and policy in relation to violence against children in particular during arrest and in pre-trial detention in eight countries (Bangladesh, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Russian Federation, Tanzania and Uganda). There are estimated to be over one million children in detention around the world, the vast majority detained for non-violent offences, […]
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Public Monitoring Commissions in Kazakhstan: Public Statement
(8 August 2012) A recent workshop of Public Monitoring Commissions in Kazakhstan facilitated by Penal Reform International (PRI) on 24-26 July has prompted an agitated debate in Kazakhstan about the role of these Commissions and the nature of an association coordinating their work. In the light of this discussion and criticism, which has also affected our organisation, […]
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New developments on the establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan
In recent months, PRI has closely followed the development of the Draft Law on the Establishment of a National Preventive Mechanism in Kazakhstan. On 5 June, new developments were discussed in a meeting of the Working Group on the Draft Law held in the Parliament of Kazakhstan. A representative of the government suggested the Ministry […]